The forming of a nonconformist

In my infamous bellybutton post, (after which my parents nearly disowned me and Anita had to do overtime counseling) I mentioned leotards, or tights, or whatever we call them. In our house we said 'strømpebukse'. And like I said there I had to wear them and they were a sagging-down type of a garment. I also had a beautiful hand knitted sweater made for me by my mormor. I'm pretty sure she had made it. Anyway, I wore that sweater to school one day, (this was kindergarten – first semester). My fashion conscious classmates got the message across to me that it was not cool to wear hand knitted sweaters to school...it was so un-Barbie...or whatever. So I went home and explained to my mom that I'd be needing a new sweater because I wouldn't be wearing that one anymore. Also I needed a lunchbox with the Monkeys on it with a matching thermos. So my mom told me how special it was to have a hand made, hand knitted sweater made by mormor far away in Norway, and that if I was the only one to have such a beautiful sweater of course that would provoke jealousy in kids whose grandmothers couldn't even knit. They were lucky if their grandmothers could crochet afghans.
Thereafter I wore my sweater, and many other garments with defiant pride. It is interesting to remember that Mrs. Pyland, our kindergarten teacher read us a story about a little boy who had special hand made socks which he wore to school and was mocked by his classmates. It seems he also was an overcomer.
Oh yes, and I decided that I didn't want a stupid lunch pail either.